Apparatus for treating canned material



May- 9, 1944.

H. L. SMITH, JR. ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATING CANNED MATERIAL Filed Feb. 27, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS 4 4 [42.0327 o BY W1 5 kw v .1 Q4 *N m S fink WSQ wwks May 9, 1944.

H. L. SMITH, JR., ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATING CANNED MATERIAL I Filed Feb. 27, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 9, 1944.

H. SMITH, JR, 151' AL APPARATUS FOR TREATING CANNED MATERIAL Filed Feb. 27, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 9, 1944.

Filed Feb. 2'7, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORJ Whale w? zz (I 1 FSW.

ATTORNEYS s bs: Q QM H. L. SMITH, JR, ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATING CANNED MATERIAL Filed Feb. 27, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORJ A'TTORNEY-S May 9,1944. H 1.. SMITH, JR., ET AL 5 4 2 7 APPARATUS FOR TREATING CANNED MATERIAL Filed Feb. 27, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEYS Patentecl May 9, 1944 APPARATUS FOR TREATING CANNED MATERIAL Horace L. Smith, Jr., and Weld E. Conley, J12, Richmond, Va., assignors, by mesne assign ments, to Chain Belt Company, Milwaukee,

Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application February 27, 1941, Serial No. 380,890

12 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating canned materials, and more particularly concerns an improved machinefor rapidly altering the temperature of perishable foods, beverages and other materials enclosed in cans or like containers.

In canning perishable materials, it is essential in order to prevent spoilage that fermentation promoting growths and organisms be killed or permanently inhibited during the canning operation. This is best accomplished by subjecting the materials to high temperatures, and since bacteria or other infection frequently sets in when the materials are exposed to air, it is desirable to perform the sterilizing or heat treatment operation after the material has been enclosed in a can or other container.

The heating of many edible substances, including fruits, vegetables and many beverages, usually results in a partial destruction of the natural flavor, color and consistency of the material. In general, such loss of natural or desired properties is a function of the time interval for which the elevated temperature is maintained. It is accordingly desirable to so conduct heating and cooling operations that the time required to increase and decrease the temperature to and from the value necessary for sterilization or other treatment be reduced to a minimum.

It has been discovered that the temperature of material enclosed in cans may be rapidly altered by the use of apparatus which carries the cans between rotating drums that are conveyed through a bath or spray of heating or cooling fluid. Apparatus of this type is disclosed in Patent No. 2,124,010, issued July 19, 1938. The apparatus therein disclosed includes conveying and propelling mechanism which both moves the can carrying drums through heating and cooling zones and rotates the drums. Conveying and propelling mechanism of this type is somewhat expensive to construct and maintain.

It is the object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for rapidly heating and cooling material enclosed in cans. The apparatus embodying the present invention employs a plurality of rotating drums for supporting and rotating the cans in contact with a suitable heating or cooling medium, but differs from the apparatus of the above mentioned patent in that the drums do not move through the heating and cooling zones but their axes are stationary, and improved reciprocating mechanism, hereinafter called the transfer mechanism, is employed to advance the cans through the heating or cooling zones, 1. e., to transferall the cans supported in a valley between two rotating drums to the next succeeding valley. The apparatus of the present invention further includes improved means for feeding the cans to and removing them from the rotating drums, improved apparatus for controlling the feeding and transfer mechanisms, and various other features and improvements which will become apparent from the following descrip tion.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a typical embodiment thereof. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away and in section, of a canning machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a rearend elevation, partly broken away, of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial front end elevation of the machine;

Figure 4 is a somewhat enlarged sectional-elevational view of one of the can gripping or squeezing devices employed in conjunction with the feeding means for arresting the movement of the cans, as seen approximately on the plane indicated by the line 4--4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; I

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the machine, with certain parts broken away or represented in section to show the interior construction;

Figure 6 is an enlarged 'sectional-elevational' view of one of the can rotating drums and its associated transfer bar, taken alongthe line 6- -6 of Figure '1; l o 4 Figure '7 is an enlarged end elevation, partly in section, of several of the can rotating drums and the transfer mechanism associated therewith;;

Figure 8 is a view similar to the left hand portion of Figure '7 illustrating the action of the transfer mechanism in advancing the cans;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of the machine taken approximately along the line 99 of Figures 1 and 5; and

Figure 10 isa simplified and diagrammatic representation of the control apparatus for the transfer mechanism, the feeding means and the gripping or squeezing devices.

The particular machine chosen to illustratethe invention is one capable of both heating canned material to, and cooling it from, an elevated temperature, and is arranged: with the heatingsection disposed above the cooling section to conserve floor space. It should be understood that the invention is applicable to machines for heatvarious sizes may be mingled and passed through the machine if desired.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 and 5, the'disclosed machine includes an upper heating tank H and a lower cooling tank I2, carried by a suitable support and framework." The lower cooling tank E2 extends rearwardly beyond one end of the heating tank I I which is disposed over and in substantial alignment with a part of the cooling tank, as best- .shown in Figures 1 and 5.

Each of the tanks H and I2 carries there- I in a series of transverse horizontal rotatable drums .13, spaced apart so that the width of the gap between the two drums of each pair is ,less than the diameter of the smallest can or other, circular section contained to be handled. The drums I3 are carried in stationary standards l4 (Figs. 6 and 7) and are all rotated in unison, that is, in the same direction and at the same speed. Each standard I4 is bifurcated insuch manner that it has two upstanding arms [4a and Mo which are spaced apart transversely of the machine. Each of the .drums i3 is provided with a pair .of ,journals or stub shafts l5, .one extending from each end thereof and rotatably mounted in the standards l 4. The standards are mounted -.on suitable channels l6 attached to the bottom .of the tank and suitably supported by the framework of the machine as best shown in Figs. 6 and 9.

The drums may be rotated in unison by any suitable means. As shown, the shaft of one of the drums in the upper tank, designated I3, is extended .at each end through the tank walls and is mounted in bearings l1 and I1 supported by the framework of the machine (Figs. 1 and 9). The shaft is driven from an electric motor 28 mounted on the frame work below the shaft. The motor drives a sprocket 19 through a speed re- ;ducer .20. The sprocket 19, through a chain 20, drives a-sprocket 2| mounted on the shaft of the drum13'. By means of sprockets 22 mounted on the ends of certain of the drum shafts at the right side of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1, and sprocket chains 23, every other drum at either side Of the drum I3 is driven from that drum. At the left side of the machine as viewed in this figure, the remaining drums are driven by means of sprockets 24, mounted on the ends of the drum shafts, and sprocket chains 25. Similarly the a shaft of one of the drums in the lowertank,

designated I3" (Fig. 9) extends through the tank walls and is supported at its ends in bearings 26 and 26. The shaft of this drum is driven from another .electric motor 27 (Fig. 9) which drives a sprocket 28 through a speed reducer 29. The sprocket 2B is connected to a sprocket 39 on the end of the drum shaft by means of a sprocket chain 3|. The drum l3 drives the other drums in the lower tank by a system of sprockets and sprocket chains similar to that employed for driving the drums in the upper tank.

In accordance with the invention, improved means are provided for advancing the cans or containers along the series of rotating drums l3. This is the transfer mechanism above referred to. The direction of advance of the cans is indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 5. They are fed to the machine at the end which has been designated herein as the front end, and are introduced into the upper tank at the left end thereof as viewed in Fig. 5. They advance from left to right through this tank and after being discharged at the right end thereof they are fed to the right end of the lower tank. They advance from right to left through the lower tank and are discharged at the left end of this tank. The transfer mechanism employed for advancing the cans comprises generally a transfer bar 32, mounted between the two drums of each and every pair, and movable upwardly in an arc of a circle between the drums and forwardly in the direction of travel, thereby propelling or transferring the cans supported in the valley between each two adjacent drums over the forward drum of the pair and into the next succeeding valley. As best shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8 the transfer bar 32 may comprise a bar of angular section extending transversely of the machine, or end to end of the drums l3. Each transfer bar 32 is fixed at its opposite ends to one of the arms 33 of a bell crank lever 34 which is pivotally supported by suitable means. In the disclosed embodiment, the bell crank levers 34 are journalled on the drum shafts I5 between the arms Ma and Nb of the bifurcated drum-supporting. standards I4, as shown in Fig. 6. The bar supporting arm 33 of the bell crank levers 34 is of such length that the upper edge of each transfer bar 32 is disposed rearwardly of the mid-point between the corresponding two drums when the bar is in its inactive position, as shown in Fig. 7.

Each bell crank lever 34 is provided with an upwardly extending bifurcated operating arm 35. As will hereinafter appear all of the operating arms 35 in the upper tank are oscillated in unison in one direction while all of those in the lower tank are oscillated in unison in the opposite direction. Before describing the mechanism for so oscillating the arms 35, it should be noted that in the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawings the rotating drums are not all mounted in the same horizontal plane in either tank. As best shown in Fig. 5, the drums in the upper tank, starting at the feed end of the machine, i. e., the left end of the tank as viewed in this figure, are arranged at successively lower levels until the mid-point of the tank is reached, and from there on they are arranged at successively higher levels. The drums are similarly arranged in the lower tank except that a number of the drums near the mid-point of the tank are all arranged at the same level.

In the upper tank there are two longitudinally reciprocating bars 36 and 31 at each side of the machine to which all of the operating arms 35 at that side of the machine are pivotally connected. These bars are inclined, as shown in Fig. 5, and their longitudinal axes lie in planes which are substantially parallel to the inclined planes in which lie the axes of the rotating drums. The two reciprocating bars 36, 31 at each side of the machine are pivotally connected by a link 38 so that they will reciprocate in unison. The upper end of each operating arm 35 is bifurcated and the reciprocating bars 36, 3! are received between the two portions thus formed on each operating arm, as best shown in Fig. '6. In the lower tank the operating arms of the transfer bars are likewise pivotally connected'with reciprocating bars but in this case there are three at each side of the machine, shown at 39, and4| in Fig. 1

5. The extreme reciprocating bars 39 and 4| are inclined for'the same reason that the bars 36 and 31 in the upper tank are inclined, but the intermediate reciprocating bars 4|! may be disposed in a horizontal plane because the drums whose transfer bars are actuated fromthem have their axes arranged in a horizontal plane. The intermediate reciprocating bar 40 at each side of the machine is pivotallyconnected to the corresponding reciprocating bar 39 by a link 42, and is pivotally connected to the corresponding reciprocat ing bar 4| by a link 43.

Motion is simultaneously imparted to the reciprocating bars in the two tanks from an electric motor 44 (Fig. 5). This motor intermittently drives a crank disc 45 through a magnetic clutch to be hereinafter described. A crank arm 46 is pivotally connected at one end to the crank disc 45, and at its other end is pivotf ally connected to one arm 41 ofa bell crank lever which is pivotally mounted on the frame work. The other arm 48 of this bell crank lever is pivotally connected by means of a link49 to an arm 50 which is secured to a shaft 5|. This shaft extends transversely across the ma chine at the rear end of the upper tank and is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings carried by the frame work. At each side of the machine the shaft 5| has fixed to it an arm 52' which is pivotally connected by means of a link 53 to the reciprocating bar 31 at the same side of the machine.

The arm 41 of the bell crank lever 41-48 is connected by means of a link 54 to an arm 55 which is secured to a transverse shaft 56. This shaft extends across the machine near the forward end thereof and is mounted in suitable bearings carried by the frame work; At each side of the machine this shaft has fixed to it a an arm 51 which is pivotally connected by means of a link 58 to the reciprocating bar 39 at the same side of the machine. It will thus be seen that when the crank disc 45 rotates, the bell tank are moving in one direction those in the other tank are moving in the opposite direction. It should be noted that the position of the bell crank levers 34 andtransfer bars132 is reversed in the two tanks. Thus when the reciprocating bars 36', 31 in the upper tank move to the right in Fig. 5, each transfer bar in that tank moves upwardly in an arc betweentwo drums in a clockwise direction to advance the cans from left to right. When the reciprocat ing bars 39, 40 and 4| in the lower tank move to the left in Fig. 5 each transfer bar in this tank moves .upwardly in an arc between two drums in a counterclockwise direction to advance the cans from right to left.

In the particular machine shown in the drawings, the cans are fed to it axially aligned, and end to end, by two continuously operating conveyor belts 59, and 60 (Figs. 1 and 3) located at the front or left end of the upper tank as viewed in Fig. 5. These conveyors receive cans at positions located at opposite sides of the uplid per tank and feed them into it in a direction transversely of the machine and towards its center line. In other words, the conveyor 59 feeds cans into the upper tank from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 3, and the conveyor 50 feeds cans into this tank from right to left, as viewed in this figure. Outside of the tank the cans are retained on the conveyors by suitable guide rails 6| (see also Fig. 1).

Inside of the upper tank, and normally located alongside of each conveyor, is a swinging feed bar 62, each of which extends substantially from the wall of the tank to the center line of the machine. Each feed bar is supported by arms 63 which are fixed to a rotatable shaft 64. The shaft 64 also carries an upstanding arm 55, acted upon by a spring 66 in such a way that the feed. bar is normally, but yieldingly, held in the retracted position shown in Fig. 5 against an adjustable stop 61. When the feed bar is in this retracted position a columnof cans is fed in front of it by the corresponding conveyor.

To one of the arms 63 there is pivoted a link 68 which has a lost-motion connection with the reciprocating bar 36 at the same side of the machine. Preferably the forward and lower edge of the link 68 is cut away as shown at 69, leaving a shoulder at 10. A bracket fastened to the reciprocating bar 36 carries a member 12 having a bifurcated upper end between the two arms of which the link 68 is received. When the reciprocating structure, made up of the bars 36, 31, etc., nears the end of its operative stroke, i. e., its movement to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5, the member 12 at each side of the machine engages the shoulder 10 on the corresponding link 68 and then the links partake of the continued movement of the reciproeating structure. This swings the two feed bars 82 across the conveyors so that each of them pushes a column of cans off of the corresponding conveyor and into the valley between the two rotating drums of the first pair. During the first part of the return movement of the reciprocating structure from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 5, the springs 66 return the feed bars 62 to their initial position. The remaining portion of the movement of the reciprocating structure has no effect on the links 68 or feed bars 62 because of the cutaway portion 59 in the links. Thus the feed bars 62 operate quickly near the end of the operative stroke of the reciprocating structure to push the two columns of cans onto the drums and return quickly to initial position during the early part of the return movement of the reciprocating structure.

When a column of cans feed intoposition in front of the. corresponding feed bar they continue to move until the leading can abuts against a stop arm 13 adiustably secured to the inner end of the corresponding feed bar 52, as best shown in Fig. l.

When a column 'of cans comes to rest against one of the stop arms l3 one can might project part y beyond the outerend of the correspondin feed bar and thus be in danger of mutilation by the feed bar upon its operative stroke unless ome precaution were taken against this possibiiiy. To prevent this from happening, there is provided at each side of the 1nach' ne,a short distance from the outer end of the feed bar 62, a squeeze or gripping device which is operated at the proper time to grip one of the cans being fed by the conveyor and thereby hold back or arrest themovement. of it and all cans to the rear of it. -The cans'in advance of the one that is gripped will be fed entirely into the machine so that they, will lie wholly within the distance extending-from the stop arm; 2'3 to ,the outer end ofthe feed bar 52, andnoportion of'the outermost canwillproject beyond the outer end of thefeed bar when the latter begins its forward movement; v The squeeze or gripping device is bestshown in Fig. 4. It comprises two bell crank levers M actuated by means of a solenoid 75 so that when the solenoid is energized, curved can gripping portions 5 at the lower end of the bell crank lovers will grip one of the cans moving on the conveyor. When the solenoid 75 is deenergized the bell crank levers release their grip upon the can. When the can gripping portions '55 are in their operative gripping position shown in Fig. 4, the axis of curvature of their cylindrical faces is slightly above the axis, of the can when the latter is resting on the conveyor. There. fore when the can is -gripped. it is lifted slightly off the conveyor to prevent undue friction betweenthe retarded can and the'moving conveyor. The can gripping devices are released at'the proper time, as hereinafter described, to permit each conveyor to move a number of cans toward the machine. Each feed bar 62 is provided at its outermost end with a gate ll (Fig. 1). which projects rearwardly from the feed bar, 1. e., towards the front of the machine. When the gripping devices are released, the feed bars 62 will not have been moved entirely back to their inoperative position, and therefore the gates 72' will lie in the path of the released cans now moving with the conveyors. Hence thecans that are permitted to move when one of the pp ng devices .is released will come to rest with the foremost can of the column abutting against the gate ll of the corresponding feed bar. When the feed bar reaches its initial or inoperative position, shown in Fig. 5, the gate ll will have been moved entirely clear of the cans, and they will therefore start feeding toward the center line of the machine. .Soon afterwards, the squeezing device is operated to hold back all but the right. number of cans which have time to feed into the proper position in front of the feed bar before the. feed bar makes its operative stroke.

The cans fed into the machine by the con.- veyor Gil (Fig. l) and which are advanced through the left half of the machine, as viewed in this figure, are restrained against end-wise movement by a row of upstanding arms i8 (there being one of such arms mounted on each of the transfer bars 32) and by a row of lugs l9 each of which is mounted on one of the operating arms 35 (Figs. 6, 7 and 9). The row a of arms i8 is arranged substantially in alignment with the stop arm 2'3 on the feed bar which feeds the cans into the left'half of the machine (Fig. l). The cans fed into the machine by the conveyor 53 and which are advanced through the right half of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 1, are likewise restrained against end-wise movement by a similar row of upstanding arms 18 mounted on the transfer bars 32 and by lugs 86 (Figs. 6, 7 and 9) mounted on the operating arms 35 at the right side of the machine as viewed in Fig. l. The arms 18' are arranged in sub stantial alignment with the stoparm E3 on the feed bar which feeds the cans into the right half of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1..

The lugs 19 and 80 prevent the cans from slid.- ing off the outer ends of the drums. They contact with the ends of the outermost cans and are preferably tapered as best shown in Fig. 6 to prevent fouling or jamming during the return stroke of the transfer mechanism.

The cans which pass through the right half of the upper tank as Viewed in Fig. 1, are transferred from the valley between the last two drums onto a continuously operating conveyor belt 8| which moves them toward the right as viewed in this figure and'discharges them from the upper tank. Likewise the cans which are fed through the left half of the machine, as viewed in Figure l, are transferred onto a continuously operating conveyor belt 82 which moves them toward the left and discharges them from the upper tank. The conveyors 8! and 82 discharge the cans into chutes Stand 84 respectively.

The chute t3 feeds its cans onto a continuously operating conveyor-belt 85 which conducts them-into the rear end of the lower tank from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 1. Likewise, the chute '84. feeds its cans onto a continuously opcrating conveyor belt 86 which conducts them into the rear end of the lower tank from left to light, as viewed in Fig. l. The feed conveyors and 86 move the cans past gripping devices 15'l6' (Fig. 2) similar to those employed in connection with the feedconveyors 59 and 69 of the upper tank. The cans are fed into the rear end of the lower tank in identically the same manner as described above in connection with the upper tank, and they are fed onto the rotating drums from the conveyor belts 85 and 8-5 .by swinging feed bars 52 (Figs. 1 and 5) similar to the feed bars employed for feeding the can onto the rotating drums in the upper tank. The feed bars '62 are actuated through links 58 from the reciprocating bars 4| of the transfer mechanism in the lower tank in much the same way that the feed bars 62 in the upper tank are actuated through the links 63 from the reciprocating bars 35 of the transfer mechanism in the upper tank.

The cans are advanced through the lower tank toward the front of the machine, i. e., from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 5. Whenthey reach the front; of the machine they are transferred onto continuousl operating conveyor belts 81 and 83 (Figs. 3 and 5), which discharge them from the machine. Each of .these conveyor receives thecans which travel through the corresponding half of the machineandmoves them outwardly and transversely of themachine to a position Where they maybe removed from the conveyors.

As best shown in Fig. 3-the two feed conveyor belts 59 and 80, and the two discharge conveyor belts 8! and 83, all located at the front of the machine, may be continuously driven in the proper direction and at the proper speed from a single electric motor 89 through a speed reducer 89'. Likewis the two discharge belts 8! and 82 at the rear end of the upper tank, and the two feed belts 85 and 86 at the rear end of the lower tank, may all be continuously driven. in the proper direction and at the proper speed from a single electric motor 98 (Fig. 2) through a speed reducer 90.

In order to heat the canned material during the'travel of the cans through the upper tank, a body of Water is maintained therein which is heated to the proper temperature. Water may be introduced into the tank, and discharged therefrom, and maintained at the proper level in any suitable way, as by admitting it through an inlet pipe 9| (Fig. and discharging it through an exit pipe 92. The water level in the upper tank is indicated by the line 93. The water is preferably maintained at such a level that the cans are substantially half submerged in, the water when they reach the lowest point intheir travel through the tank. The water may be heated and maintained at the proper temperature by means of one or more steam coils 93" to each of which steam may be admitted through a pipe 94 and discharged through a pipe 95.

Inasmuch as they particular machine il1ustrated was designed to cool the canned material during the passage of the cans through the lower tank, a body of cooling water, Whose level is indicated at 96, is maintained in this tank. Cold water may be admitted to the tank through an inlet pipe 91 and discharged from the tank through an outlet pipe 99. The water in this tank is also maintained at such a level that the cans will be substantially half submerged when they reach the-lowest point during their travel through the tank. The operation of the transfer mechanism, the mechanism for feeding the cans onto the rotating. drums, and the can gripping devices, is controlledby suitablemechanism represented in simplified and diagrammatic form in Fig. 10. As above stated the transfer mechanism (which in turn actuates the mechanism for feeding the cans onto the rotating drums) is directly actuated from the crank disc 45, and the latter is intermittent- 1y rotated from'the motor 44 through a magnetic clutch represented at 99. Assuming that the parts have just arrived in the position shown'in Fig. 10, and also in Fig. 5, and that this is the beginning of a cycle, the operation of the machine throughout a complete cycle will now be described. 1

. As soon as the, parts arrive in the initial or starting position shown in Figs. 5 and 10, the magnetic clutch 99 is automatically disengaged to temporarilyarrest the motion of the parts. This may be accomplished in any suitable way, as by means of a cam I00 on the crank disc 45. When the crank disc 45 brings the parts to the initial position shown in Fig. 10, this cam, acting for instance through a pivoted lever and a link I02, opens a limit switch S1 and cuts off the supply of'current being delivered to the magnetic clutch through a circuit including conductors I03, I04 and I05. At this time, as will hereinafter appear, the magnetic clutch is supplied with current from no other source and therefore it will be disengaged to arrest the motion of the crank disc 45.v When the parts reach their initial or starting position shown in Fig. a second limit switch S2, actuated in any suitable manner from the transfer mechanism, as by means of a rod I06, is closed to complete an electric circuit through conductors I01, I08. and I09 to the coil of a time delay relay R1. It should be noted at this point that before the relayRi closes, and during the interval that the transfer mechanism is at rest, the cans that were held back by the gate 11 at the outer end of each feed bar, are now feeding into position toward the center line of the machine, because the feed bars are in their fully retracted position shown in Figs. 5 and '10. However, before the leading can of: each column-reaches the stop arm 13 at the inner end of the feed bar, the relay R1 closesand completes a circuit through conductors H0, II I and I I3 through the solenoids of thecan grip ping devices. One can on each of the feed conveyor belts will thereupon be gripped to arrest its movement and hold back all of the cans except those which have passed beyond the gripping device. The closing of therelay R1 also completes a circuit through conductors H4 and Ill) H5 to the coil of another time delay relay R2. Afteran intervalof time which is sufficiently long to permit all of the cans that have passed beyond the gripping device to. be fed entirely in front of the feed bars, the relay R2 closes to complete a circuit through conductors H6, H1, and. the conductors I04 and I05 previously referred to, to the magnetic clutch 99. Thereupon the crank disc 45 will start rotating. During rotation of the crank disc the transfer mechanism will advance the cans one step through the upper and lower tanks,-and when the feed bars are actuated in the manner hereinbefore described, the cans which have been fed in front. of them will be fed onto the first pair of rotating drums. Soon after the crank disc 45 starts to rotate, the limit switch S1 will be closed so that current is also supplied to the magnetic clutch 99 through the conductors I03, I04 and I05. Going back to the time that the solenoids of .the can gripping devices were energized upon closing of the relay R1, it will be noted that when that happened, a switch H8 (represented as being actuated by one of the solenoids) was closed to complete a holding circuit for the solenoid coil of each can gripping device through conductors I I9, I20, a third limit switch S3, a conductor HI, and the previously referred to conductors H4, Ill and H3. The closing of the switch H8 may also be utilized to complete a holding circuit for the coil of relay R2, as follows: conductor H9, switch H8, conductor I20, limit switch S3, conductor l2l, coil of relay R2 and conductor H5. Soon after the transfer mechanism begins its operative stroke the limit switch S2 opens and the relay R1 drops out, but this does not, at that time, cause release of the can gripping devices and opening of the relay R2 due to their holding circuits just described. However,'these holding circuits are both broken at'a suitable time later in the movement of the transfer mechanism. I For instance, when the transfer mechanism has completed its movement to the right, as viewed in Fig. 10, a part movable with it represented by the rod I22 opens the limit switch S3 to break the. holding circuits to the can gripping solenoids and to the relay R2. Th relay R: then opens but in so doing it does not disengage the magnetic clutch 99 because the supply of current to it is continued due to the switch S1 which is now closed. The limit switch S3 immediately closes as soonas the transfer mechanism begins its return stroke. The cans that are released when the solenoids of the cangripping devices are deenergized are conveyed by the feed belts until the leading can of eachcolumn abuts against the gate 11 at the outermost end of the corresponding feed bar, which gateis now lying in the path of those advancing cans. When the crank disc 45 has made a complete rotation and has brought the parts back to the position shown in Fig; 10, the can I00 on the crank disc will open thelimit switch S1 to out off the supply of current to the magnetic clutch 99 andthereby I bring the parts to rest in their initial or starting of the limit switch S2 upon thecompletion of the first cycle' starts the second cycle inasmuch as this will automatically start the parts in motion again upon the elapse of a predetermined interval of time, as hereinbefore described. The time that elapses between the closing of the switch S2 and the beginning of the forward stroke of the transfer mechanism is determined by the delay in the action of relay R1, added to the delay of Figs. 7 and 8. In these figures, as well as in the other figures, the cans-are represented at C. In Fig. 7 several cans are shown resting directly upon the rotating drums l3 and being rotated thereby. In this figure, the transfer bars are in the inactive position which they assume when the transfer mechanism is in its initial or starting position represented in Figs. 5 and 10. When each trans- 'fer bar. in the upper tank moves in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. '7, its upper edge contacts with the lower surface of all of the cans which are resting upon the two drums between which the transfer bar operates. Continued movement of the transfer bar to the position shown in Fig. 8 forces all of the cans with which it contacts out of the space or valley between the two corresponding drums and moves them forwardly toward the next valley. When the upper edge of the transfer bar comes in contact with the rotating cans a reactive force is set up which assists in causing the cans to advance to the next valley. It will be noted from Fig. 8 that when a transfer bar reaches its highest position, the canswhich have been moved forward by it are now re'sting'on the flat face of the next transfer bar, but during the return stroke of the transfer mechanism those cans will be lowered into the Valley to which they have been advanced. Likewise when the feed bars push the cans off the iced belt towards the first valley in the upper and lower tanks, the cans are first supported on the flat face of the first transfer bar, which is now in the elevated position, but will be lowered into the valley during the return stroke of the transfer mechanism. As previously stated the transfer bars in the lower tank operate in an opposite direction from those in the upper tank so that whereas the cans are advanced through the upper tank from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 5, they are advanced in the lower tank from right to left, as viewed in this figure. Of course, the last transfer bar in each tank transfers its cans onto one of the discharge conveyor belts and not into another valley between two drums.

By feeding two sets of cans .in from opposite sides of the machine and keeping the two sets of cans separate during their travel through the machine by the use of some sort of partition means, such as the arms 18 and 18', cans of two different sizes may be simultaneously and separately treated. For instance, large cans may be fed in at the left side of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 1,- and discharged at the same side of the machine, "while small cans -may be fed in at the rightside of the machine, as viewed in this figure, and also discharged from the right side of the machine. As above stated, however, the invention is not limited to machines which segregate cans of, different sizes, for the machine may treat cans of one size, 01', cans of various sizes may be mingled and passed through the machine ifso desired.

Moreover, while the machine herein shown and described was designed to receive and discharge cans at each side of the machine, and to keep the two sets of cans separate during treatment, it

should be understood that the invention is applicable to machines in which all of the cans are fed in at one side of the machine and discharged at that side, the particular machine illustrated and described being in effect two of such machines consolidated into one and symmetrically arranged on both sides of its longitudinal axis. In fact, so far as certain phases of the invention are concerned it makes no difference Whether the cans are fed to and discharged fromthe machine transversely thereof, 1. e., from the side of the machine, or whether they are fed to and discharged from it longitudinally of the machine,

The invention is not limited to machines in which the canned material is both heated and cooled, but in the particular machine herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that as the cans advance through the upper tank their.

contents is heated by the hot water therein to the proper temperature and for the proper time interval, and that during their passage through the lower tank their contents is cooled to the proper temperature and for the proper duration of time. In both tanks the rotating drums which support the cans cause them to rotate about their longitudinal axis. In most cases, it is preferred to pack the material in the cans in such a manner that the rotation of them produces a rapid circulation of the material, or at least the liquid portion thereof within the can. In this manner there is a rapid heat exchange between the contents of the can and the heating or cooling liquid, and the entire mass of the canned material is rapidly heated to or cooled from the temperature required for preservation.

It will now be seen that in the improved machine herein disclosed, it is not necessary to cause the rotating drums to progress through the machine and thereby carry the cans with them, as is done in the machine disclosed in Patent 2,124,010 herein'before referred to, since the-cans are advanced through the machine from 'va'lley'to valley between the rotating but otherwise stationaryummsby the improved transfer mechanism.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for treating products in closed containers of circular -cross-section, comprising a series "of rotary horizontally disposed drums having stationary axes and arranged in parallel s aced relation so as to support the containers in the valleys between them, said drums being 'of such length that a column of containers may be supported in each of said valleys, means for rotating said "drums in thesa'me direction, a conveyorror conducting a column of containers longitudirrally "of such column and longitudinallypf the drums toward'a p'o'stion in front of the "seri'es of drums, a pair of pivoted clamping 'members adapted when actuated to engage one "of the "containers on the conveyor to arrest the movement of that container and those tothe rear of it while permitting the containers that have passed said arresting means to reach sai'd position infront of the series "of drums, electricalIy operated means for moving said members simultaneously, m'ean's operating after such containers re'a'ch said position to feed all of them simultaneously 'and1latera11ypnto said .drums, transfer mechanism for advancing the columns of "containersfrom valley to :valley along. the series of drums. and means for; effecting a temperature change in thecontainer contents during theadvance ofthe containers along the drums.

2. Apparatus for treating material in closed containers comprising a heat exchange compartment, a series of rotary horizontally "disposed drums extending transverselyof: said compartment andhaving stationary .axes and arranged in parallel spaced relation so as to support the containers in the valleysbetween them, means for rotating said drums in the same direction, means for feeding'containers ontosaid drums, reciprocating transfer mechanism for intermit ,tently advancing all'of the containers simultane ously along the series of drums: and comprising a series of oscillating transfer members, each mounted between a separate pair of adjacent drums, means for simultaneously 'oscillatingj all ofzthe transfer members in unison whereby. in one direction of movement they advance Fall of the containers from one valley between two adjacent drums to the next succeeding valley between the second of such drums and the next adjacent drum, and means arresting said transfer members in inactive initial positions fora predetermined time interval. .23. Apparatus .for treating material in closed containers comprising a heat exchange compartment, a series of rotary horizontally disposed drums extending transversely of said comparte ment and having stationary axes andlarranged I in parallel spaced relation so as to' support the containers in the valleys between them, means for' continuously rotating all of said drums in the same direction,- a feedconveyor for conducing a column of containers longitudinally of the column and longitudinally of said drums toward a position in front of said series of drums, arresting means adapted when actuated to engage one of the containers on the conveyor to arrest the movement of that container and those to the rear of it while permitting the containers that have passed said arresting means to reach said position in front of the series of drums, feeding means mounted for movement laterally across said conveyor and adapted to engage the column of containers that have reached said position and feed them laterally into the valley between the first two of said drums, reciprocating transfer mechanism for intermittently advancing all of the containers simultaneously along the series of drums and normally assuming an inactive initial position, and control mechanism to cause operation first of the arresting means to engage one of the containers on said conveyor and at a predetermined time thereafter to start reciprocation of said transfer mechanism and to arrest it when it resumes its initial position after a complete reciprocation, to permit continued rotation of all of the containers in the interval between successive transferring movements.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said control mechanism delays the container-engaging operation of said arresting means for a predetermined time after the transfer mechanism is arrested in its initial position.

5. Apparatus for treating material in closed containers comprising an upper tank, a lower tank, heating means in the upper tank, cooling means in the lower tank, a feed conveyor at each side of the forward end of the upper tank adapted to feed a column of containers into the tank transversely thereof and longitudinally of the column, means for advancing the containers through the upper tank, a discharge conveyor at each side of the rear end of the upper tank adapted to discharge a column of containers from thequpp'er tank-transversely thereof and longitudinally of the column, partition means in the upper tank whereby the containers fed into it at one side are discharged from the same side and keptseparate from the containers fed into and discharged from the other side of the upper tank, a chute at each side of the rear end of the upper tank to which the containers from the discharge conveyor at that side of the tank are delivered, a feed conveyor at each side of the rear end of the lower tank to which theconta iners from the chute at that side of thetank are delivered and which is adapted to feed a column of the-containers into the lower tank transversely thereof and longitudinally of the column, means for ad,- vancing the containers through the lowerfltank towards its forward end, a discharge conveyor at each side of the forward end of the lower tank adapted to discharge a columnof containers from the lower tank transversely thereof and longitudinally of the column, and partition means in the lower tank whereby the containerskept separate up to the time of their arrival at the lo'wer tank are still kept separate during their passage through thelower tank and eachset of containers is ultimately discharged at that side of the apparatus at which itwas originallyded-to it. 6. An apparatus for treating material in closed containers of circular cross-section, comprising a series of horizontallydisposed drumsihaving stationary axes and arranged in parallelspace'd relation so as to support the containers in the valleys betwe'enthem, means forcontinuouslyro tating said drums in the same direction to rotate all of the containers in said valleys, means for feeding a column of containers to the valley between the first two drums, a series of transfer bars each normally disposed beneath a separate one of said valleys, separate lever arms connected to said transfer bars, and a, longitudinally movable bar connected to all of said lever arms for simultaneously swinging all of said transfer bars and moving each column of containers from one valley to the next.

'7. In heat exchange apparatus for processing material in closed containers, having a series of parallel drums mounted for rotation about fixed horizontal axes, arranged to support and rotate the containers in the valleys between adjacent drums: mechanism for advancing said containers from valley to valley, comprising a plurality of transfer bars arranged for engagement respectively with the containers in each of the valleys of said series and reciprocable to effect transfer of the containers from each of said valleys to the next succeeding valley of the series, a plurality of lever arms associated respectively with said bars, means interconnecting said arms so as to maintain the arms at all times in a predetermined corresponding angular relationship with each other, and means including said arms operative intermittently to effect simultaneous corresponding reciprocation of all of said bars so as thereby to cause simultaneous transfer of the containers in all of the valleys of said series.

8. In heat exchange apparatus for processing material in closed containers, having a heat exchange compartment, and a series of parallel drums mounted therein for rotation about fixed horizintal axes, adapted to support parallel columns of containers in the valleys between adjacent drums and to rotate said columns upon their axes: means for feeding a column of containers to the first valley of the series; means for intermittently advancing the columns of containers from valley to valley to progress them through the compartment; andmeans for actuating said feeding means from said advancing means, including lost motion connections whereb containers in said first; valley will be evacuated therefrom by said advancing 'means before a fresh column of containers is supplied thereto by said feeding means. 7

9. In heat exchange apparatus for processing material in closed containers, having a heat exchange compartment, and a series of parallel drums mounted therein for rotation about fixed horizontal axes, arranged to support parallel columns of containers in the valleys between adjacent drums and to rotate said columns upon their axes: a reciprocatable feed bar for feeding a column of containers to the first Valley of the series; reciprocatory means for intermittently advancing the columns of containers from valley to valley to progress them through the compartment; and delayed action connections between said advancing means and said feed bar whereby containers in said first valley will be evacuated therefrom before a fresh column of containers is supplied thereto by said bar.

10. In heat exchange apparatus for processing material. in closed containers, havingv a heat exchange compartment, and a series of parallel drums mounted therein for rotation about fixed horizontal axes, adapted to support parallel columns of containers in the valleys between adjacent drums and to rotate said columns upon their axes: means for intermittently advancing the columns of containers from valley to valley to progress them through the compartment; and means carried by said advancing means, engageable with the end containers of each column to restrain endwise movement of the columns.

11. Heat exchange apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the advancing means comprise reciprocatory members, and the means for restraining endwise movement of the columns comprise elements projecting from said reciprocatory members for engagement with the outer ends of the end containers of the columns.

12. In heat exchange apparatus for processing material in closed containers, a receptacle for containing a heat exchanging liquid; a, plurality of parallel drums mounted therein for rotation about fixed horizontal axes, for supporting the closed containers in the valleys between adjacent drums and rotating said containers upon their axes, said. drums being arranged in a plurality of series two of which incline downwardly toward each other from points above the level of the liquid in said receptacle to a point below said level, whereby containers supplied to-the upper end of one seriesand advanced from valley to valley will be progressively at least partly submergedv in the heat exchanging liquid and then progressively emerged therefrom and discharged at the upper end of the other series; and means for so advancing the containers from valley to valley.

HORACE L. SMITH, JR.

WELD E. CONLEY, JR. 

